...row...row..., a photo from An Giang, Mekong River Delta

Photographer's Note

A hard working floating food vendor, constantly on the move searching for customers on Bassac river near Chau Doc town. She caught my attention and obviously hard to ignore, one of those amazing and courageous women doing back breaking work under the unrelenting sun and all that for a very little financial reward. It𠏋 a hard life to earn a few dongs as most people just live day by day. This woman doesn't make a living, she𠏋 surviving and if for some reason she can't work, she will not earn anything. She just gets on with it because there is no other way to put food on the table.

I am always amazed at the working capacity of these people. Everywhere you go in Vietnam, you will see people working; in the fields, on water or carrying heavy loads on their back or motorbikes etc, etc. The Vietnamese seem to be very busy and never stop being busy....

Nothing special about this shot, just glimpses into the essence of local life. She also has a sense of elegance from this viewpoint imho, which seems to isolate her in the setting but unsure if the image says much. I aimed to portray a specific aspect of life and scenario that may provoke some thought.......

COSTANTINO, Romano46, jhm, saxo042, holmertz, rychem, papagolf21, ourania, kato, Cricri, dip, adramad, Didi, vntexuser, shreya2000, adores, mcmtanyel, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

claudeD (47754) 2014-04-15 2:36

Hello,

interesting contribution to TE showing this man doing his daily work on the river.Very good sharpness and clarity.Very well done.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-04-15 2:47

This is super Abmdsudi. The composition and balance of the shot is top class with the oars and upper body of the figure creating a series of triangles within the frame, adding dynamism and form to the image.

I am amazed at the balance the oarsman displays. How does he stop those bottles from falling into the water?

Nicely done.

Warm regards

Rosemary

COSTANTINO (116604) 2014-04-15 3:42

Hello my dear friend
the beginning of your useful notes describe
this photo in detail: a hard working floating
vendor nice pov simple shot but very interesting
with the woman doing her daily work
blue and red make the contrast
as you said its hard life to earn a few
as most people just live day by day
difficult times
regarda
have a nice evening
Costantino tha nks for snharing with us
this lessons of life

Romano46 (18472) 2014-04-15 3:52

Ciao Abmdsudi
un altro splendido ritratto ritagliato nel paesaggio vietnamita:
colori decisi e soggetto che riempe in toto il fotogramma con la sua carica vitale.
Un'altra bella proposta dai paesi dell'est asiatico.
Complimenti
Ciao e buona giornata
Romano

CLODO (45116) 2014-04-15 4:04

hello Abmdsudi

I like the vivid colors of your picture and the different lines of it (rows, boat and man).
best regards
CLODO

jhm (211736) 2014-04-15 4:10

Hello Abmdsudi,

People that every time work are of the good sort, these people have proven during the Vietnam War that she are fighters.
Your picture is very well taken with these man and his boat.
Sharpness and clarity make these picture wonderful.
Excellent composition, nice presentation.
Very well composition, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

sandpiper (6788) 2014-04-15 4:31

Hi Abmdsudi

Indeed, life is hard for many in Asia. A great daily life capture, with good composition and POV. What is inside the blue doors.....

Chris

npecanhuk (79329) 2014-04-15 4:32

Hello Abmdsudi!
Very interesting and attractive picture!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, chosen pov and composition really pleased me!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

Sergiom (117241) 2014-04-15 4:55

Bonjour Abmdsudi

On dirait une cantine aquatique. Ce qui frappe en premier, ce sont les pantalons rouges ensuite c'est la belle panoplie des produits � vendre.L'ensemble est parfaitement compos�.

Amicalement

Serge

pajaran (116011) 2014-04-15 5:33

Dobar dan, popodne.
Interesantan i dobar tekst o mestu i trenutku ...
Dobar trenutak snimka i kontrast, lepo pokazan prodavac na camcu, lepe boje.
Dobar rad, lepo uhvacen trenutak.
Tezak zivot, mnogo posla a malo para.
Prijatno vece i lepa noc, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good afternoon, this afternoon.
Interesting and good article about the place and time ...
Good time recording and contrast nicely demonstrated by the seller of the boat, beautiful colors.
Good work, nice captured moment.
The hard life, a lot of work and some money.
Have a nice evening and night, all the best.
Paja.

Fis2 (170885) 2014-04-15 6:59

Witaj Abmdsudi!
Next lovely photo from daily life.
It's a pity that from behind :(
Good frame and colors.
Well done.
Greetings from Poland.
Krzysztof

saxo042 (38078) 2014-04-15 7:14

Hi Abmdsudi,
A perfectly composed picture with the boat as a diagonal and the oars reinforcing the composition. The man here adds both life and colours and so does the blue part of the boat. A very attractive picture!
Kind regards
Gunnar

holmertz (102800) 2014-04-15 7:45

Hello Abmdsudi,
A straightforward but very eye-catching and quite amazing photo. The woman's red trousers and the blue cupboard add bright colours to the muddy look of the river, and the oars create very attractive digonals. Maybe more than the artistic and photographic qualities it's the story behind the picture that touches me.
Kind regards,
Gert

dta (98848) 2014-04-15 8:14

Hello Abmdsudi ,
A great scene of the hard daily life in Vietnam . The framing is excellent , and the capture is as the right moment to capture the wave of the oar . His little blue piece of furniture is especially picturesque .
(The little dark part at the top (near the frame) is a little disturbing , but it is a minor detail) .
Regards

rychem (72187) 2014-04-15 8:38

Great photo of this scene on the river, this man is really working hard, excellent capture, good composition
very well spotted
regards Ryszard

Gigidusud (21679) 2014-04-15 10:01

Hello Abmdsudi,
Beautiful daily life scene with nice colors. I like it!
Best regards.
Gigi

No_One (4) 2014-04-15 12:38

Hi Abmdsudi

I would not say at all that there is nothing special about this shot, to my Irish eyes this is a unique and fascinating scene. We do not live with the water the way so many in the world do, so to see a woman working her trade and her shop being on the water like this is an eye opener for me. Learning about the world through photography! As you say, it is amazing the hard work so many must do to survive while others earn so much for so little and still find time only to complain.
Makes me stop and think.

Thanks as always
Noel

papagolf21 (152607) 2014-04-15 14:51

Bonsoir, cher Abmdsudi,
Une image parlante et fort bien pr廥ent嶪. La barque joue un grand r犨e dans la vie quotidienne.
Le mouvement des rames, le contenu du bateau, tout est expliqu� d'une bien belle fa蔞n � travers cette composition.
Amiti廥.
Philippe

jjcordier (79299) 2014-04-15 22:01

Abmdsudi
Une int廨essante sc鋝e de la vie de tous les jours sur cette rivi鋨e. Joli cadrage.
Amicalement
JJ

ourania (51103) 2014-04-16 0:54

Hello Abmdsudi,
I like very much how you framed this characteristic scene from the constant move and struggle of this heavily working woman. Your picture has a strong and immediate impact, the scene and its message are projected through an exquisite use of perspective, sharpness, colour and graphism. The soft and fluid backdrop sets off the scene superbly. Such a discreet and effective approach to your theme. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

kato (11630) 2014-04-16 3:02

Hi Abmdsudi,

You're capturing well this daily life by a good angle and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting and impressive to see the ship merchant who is rowing skillfully the muddy river. It's also impressive in many bottles on loading platform inside the boat. The whole is harmonized well by a good arrangement and tasteful color combination.

Kind regards,
mikio

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2014-04-16 3:58

Namaste,
Excellent composition here. You got a nice daily life shot where you captured the moment just at the right time. The blue & red are really fascinating. Great shot. Tfs.
S

Kamilutka (8107) 2014-04-16 6:01

Hello,
interesting approach to this classic subject - I like the idea of capturing the rowing woman from behind. Very well framed with main focus on the person in the boat. I like also the colors which have been very nicely saturated and the way you caught the water on the paddle. Very well done!
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Kamila

Cricri (176) 2014-04-17 9:32

Hi Abmdsudi
Une sc鋝e de vie quotidienne difficile pour ces personnes, votre note est touchante, int廨essante et bien expliquer, j'aime la sc鋝e , les couleurs et le mouvement des rames, les d彋ails sont bien rendu, une tr鋊 belle pr廥entation
Belle soir嶪
cricri

Silvio1953 (221751) 2014-04-17 10:49

Ciao Abmdsudi, lovely daily life composition, nice scene on river, wonderful colors and splendid light, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

m (0) 2014-04-18 13:44

Hi Abmdsudi,
excellent photo! The angle, the composition and the colors work perfectly. Her red pants and the blue "cabinet" are sure eye-catchers here. Amazing contrast! Great capture from daily life showing the hard work of the people with interesting detail and a thoughtful note.
Best wishes!

dip (21408) 2014-04-18 13:46

Hello Abmdsudi,
it is a very interesting scene of daily life,
very well captured,framed and composed,
thanks for sharing,
Dimitris.

marabu61 (11587) 2014-04-19 5:27

Hello Abmdsudi
This is a great portrait to the inside life of these hardworking people indeed. The pose of the woman and of corse the blue and red help a lot to create a dynamic composition.
have a great day
Daniel

adramad (73006) 2014-04-19 7:57

Hello Abmdsudi.
A very good composition of daily life in this part of the world with the seller offering your merchandise, in such an original way, transporting it in a boat, very well captured everything in great detail.
Very well managed the brightness and sharpness, to enjoy this beautiful picture, which I love.
Gorgeous color, these natural shades.
Have a great Weekend.
Best wishes.
Luis.

Didi (61589) 2014-04-19 8:27

Namaste (Abmdsudi)�
Goo scene of daily life
Interesting selective DOF on the main subject
Very hard work
Kind regards

shreya2000 (2815) 2014-04-23 6:28

Dear Abmdsudi,

Great shot. A shop on the boat. The cap and the dress of the rider is very nice. The colours are beautiful. I like your picture.
Regards,
joginder

eldancer1 (36343) 2014-04-23 10:04

To a lot of people especially from industrialized countries this scene is exotic and romantic, but to the people who live this kind of life it is a struggle to make a living. I've been there and every morning I thank the lord for my fortune. Good capture and good timing as the paddle just coming out of the water. Nice details and wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

Glint (6171) 2014-05-07 7:40

Hello Ambdsudi,
first of all, as your note says and as I can see, this is a woman. This is well composed with the female vendor well placed in the frame and strong diagonal lines. Nice colours too. You are right, she does have a simple elegance and indeed dignity and I can confirm that your photo gives the viewer a glimpse of local life.
Bev

adores (46979) 2014-05-14 15:05

Hi Abmdsudi!
A beautiful capture! I like the combination of eye catching colours and it's a very good daily scene that you captured very well, with well managed light and focus.
I guess the essence of local life makes it really special:)!

mcmtanyel (68647) 2014-07-06 20:20

Hello Abmdsudi,
Excellent zoom job telling a melancholic story. The colors are brilliant. The little detail of water splash from the left oar is fantastic.
Regards,
MT

aliabazari (22289) 2014-10-07 23:39

Hi abmdsudi
Very beautiful shot. I love it. Good sharpness and exposure. Thank you for recording this nice picture